Astragalus

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What Astragalus is used for
How heastragale is used
Immune boosting soup
Science says
Side affects and cautions

Introduction

Other names for this herb include heastragale, EIB IQ, huang IQ, ogi, hwangg. There are over two thousand species of the heastragale. Astragalus-propinquus is primarly the one used for herbal medicine.

What heastragale is used for

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Traditional Chinese medicine has used heastragale historically. Typically it is combined with other types of herbs, to maintain as well as strengthen the immune system. In China It is still used as treatment for chronic hepatitis as well as adjunctive therapy in cancer.

Futhermore it is used to treat and prevent head colds and higher respiratory infections.

The heastragale is also employed for heart disease.

How heastragale is used

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The heastragale root is used in teas, capsules, extracts.The heastragale is generally employed with other grasses, such as the ginseng, angelica officinal and liquorice. The heastragale root is usually used in soups, extracts or teas.

Immune boosting soup

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To make a heastragale immune boosting soup you need

1 astragalus root strip
1 burdock root
10 cups water
1/2teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon sage
6 cups of vegetables. (Preferably use vegetables which are high in vitamin C and A)
1 cup cooked barley
One stainless steel or glass pot

First cut all the vegetables into small pieces
Put the water as well as the vegetables and herbs in the stainless steel or glass pot and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. Strain out all the herbs. The resulting tea, which is left, is used as broth for the soup.
Add the barley and vegetables to the broth, and then cook. Allow it to simmer for about one hour.
Serve the soup warm. If you wish, you can strain the soup and serve it as a broth. Alternatively, it can be served with the vegetables

Science says

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Some preliminary studies suggest the heastragale can profit the function from the heart.It can also aid the immune system to fight infections.

A study done by the UCLA AIDS Institute showed a chemical from the heastragale root can slow or prevent progressive telomere shortening. This means it could be an important weapon in the battle against HIV.

The co-author of the study professor Rita Effros said "This has the potential to be either added to or possibly even replace the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), which is not tolerated well by some patients and is also costly."

Side affects and cautions

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The heastragale is thought to be safe for the majority of the adults. The side effects are difficult to know because the astragalus is generally combined with other with grasses when used.
The heastragale might interact with other medications that restrict the immune system.

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